Neuroprotection by Orexin-A via HIF-1α induction in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease.

Orexin-A, a neuropeptide secreted by hypothalamic neurons, may be neuroprotective in many neurological conditions such as cerebral ischaemia. One mechanism postulated to be involved in the neuroprotection by Orexin-A is the induction of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α). Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and mitochondrial dysfunction has been demonstrated to play a role in its pathogenesis. Mitochondrial dysfunction may cause reduction of O2 consumption and subsequently activate prolyl hydroxylase, which leads to decreased level of HIF-1α. In this study, we used MPP(+)-treated SH-SY5Y cells as an in vitro cellular model of PD to test the role of Orexin-A as an inducer of HIF-1α. Our results showed that Orexin-A not only induced HIF-1α but also activated downstream targets of HIF-1α, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin. Thus, Orexin-A treatment attenuated MPP(+)-induced cell injury and this effect was blocked when HIF-1α was suppressed. Hence, we conclude that induction of HIF-1α is one of the mechanisms involved in the neuroprotection by Orexin-A.

Effects of deep brain stimulation in relatively young-onset multiple system atrophy Parkinsonism.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes after 1 year of bilateral STN deep brain stimulation (DBS) in relatively young-onset patients with multiple system atrophy-Parkinsonism (MSA-P). BACKGROUND: The efficacy of DBS has been demonstrated in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. However, the experience with DBS in relatively young-onset MSA-P is limited and controversial. METHODS: Information about the demographic and clinical data from five MSA patients treated with STN DBS was entered into a database and analyzed. RESULTS: Five patients with relatively young-onset MSA (mean age at onset 42.2±2.2 years, 3 women, 2 men) have been treated with bilateral STN stimulators, the mean duration between DBS surgery and disease onset was 7.0±3.5 years. All of the patients had dyskinesia and postural instability, and subjective benefit from levodopa. During the 6 months after surgery, the clinical status of three patients improved with a decrease of dyskinesia. However, by 1 year, the symptoms reappeared and progressed in all patients. Overall, the mean "off" medication UPDRS-III score worsened 23.5±15.3 1 year after surgery and the levodopa dosage was not reduced. CONCLUSIONS: This data does not support the use of STN DBS for relatively young-onset MSA-P.

WITHDRAWN: Errors Regarding the Article "MicroRNA-21 Modulates Chemosensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to Doxorubicin by Targeting PTEN"

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[Research on the effects of PIAS3 expression on the invasion of glioma TJ905 cells].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the function and possible mechanisms of PIAS3 expression on the invasion of TJ905 cells. METHODS: PIAS3 overexpression vectors were constructed and PIAS3 siRNA were chemically synthesized, which were separately transfected into TJ905 cells for upregulation or downregulation of PIAS3 expression levels in TJ905 cells. After that, the invasive effects of TJ905 cells were measured by Transwell assay, and the expression of PIAS3, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)3, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 were identified by Western blot. RESULTS: In vitro transfection efficiency of plasmids and oligonucleotides were separately 85.3% ± 3.1% and 95.1% ± 2.9%. PIAS3 overexpression plasmid transfection in vitro could effectively improve the expression of PIAS3 protein in TJ905 cells and inhibit the invasion of TJ905 cells (P < 0.05), and cell penetration ratio reduced from 87.9% ± 9.3% to 37.3% ± 7.9% compared with control group, while it upregulated TIMP3 and downregulated MMP-2, MMP-9 protein expression (P < 0.05); PIAS3 siRNA transfection could inhibit the PIAS3 protein expression of TJ905 cells and promote the invasion of TJ905 cells (P < 0.05), and cell penetration ratio increased from 83.9% ± 7.1% to 93.2% ± 3.1% compared with control group, while it downregulated TIMP3 and upregulated MMP-2, MMP-9 protein expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PIAS3 expression is closely related to the invasion properties of glioma TJ905 cells.

Genetic analysis of parkin co-regulated gene (PACRG) in patients with early-onset parkinsonism.

Parkin co-regulated gene (PACRG) is a recently identified gene which is transcriptionally co-regulated with parkin gene (PRKN) by a shared bidirectional promoter. To determine whether early-onset parkinsonism (EOP) is associated with PACRG mutation, we screened 112 patients with EOP and found three nucleotide variants: (1) T>C transition in intron 2 (nt 87004; NT_007422), (2) C>T transition (L214L) in exon 6 (nt 585706; NT_007422), and (3) T>A substitution in intron 5 (nt 585630; NT_007422), located 18 bp upstream from exon 6. Since none of these variations appear to be pathogenically relevant, our results suggest that mutation of PACRG plays little or no role in the development of EOP.

Biomarkers of neurodegenerative disorders: how good are they?

Biomarkers are very important indicators of normal and abnormal biological processes. Specific changes in pathologies, biochemistries and genetics can give us comprehensive information regarding the nature of any particular disease. A good biomarker should be precise and reliable, distinguishable between normal and interested disease, and differential between different diseases. It is believed that biomarkers have great potential in predicting chances for diseases, aiding in early diagnosis, and setting standards for the development of new remedies to treat diseases. New technologies have enabled scientists to identify biomarkers of several different neurodegenerative diseases. The followings, for instance, are only a few of the many new biomarkers that have been recently identified: the phosphorylated tau protein and aggregated Beta-amyloid peptide for Alzheimer's disease (AD), Alpha-synuclein contained Lewy bodies and altered dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging for Parkinson's disease (PD), SOD mutations for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and CAG repeats resulted from Huntington's gene mutations in Huntington's disease (HD). This article will focus on the most-recent findings of biomarkers belonging to the four mentioned neurodegenerative diseases.